May marks the unofficial start of wedding season and while Orange County is known for its vacation spots, it’s equally chock-full of incredible destination wedding venues. If you’re visiting the area as a wedding guest this summer, why not take the opportunity to create your own Orange County vacation?
While it’s likely the bride and groom have recommended accommodations, Costa Mesa hotels offer luxurious accommodations with convenient proximity not just to major landmarks and venues within the city but also some of the most popular Orange County venues.
Fill your time before and after the big wedding event with plenty of exploration of Southern California’s unbeatable attractions. Costa Mesa is known for the arts, whether it be performing arts and music or the culinary arts. With so many attractions and convenient lodging in one city, you don’t have to choose!
Local Dining
While the bulk of your meals may be taken up by wedding festivities, you’ll want to make sure to experience some of what Orange County’s Eatcation™ destination has to offer. Try eating like a local at one of these six recommended spots, try out the talents of three former “Top Chef” contestants or find the perfect happy hour.
Live Entertainment
Segerstrom Center for the Arts and South Coast Repertory are perfect options for fitting in the performing arts.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts welcomes Broadway tours, international dance troupes and a range of musical artists like Rita Wilson, Bett Midler, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, The Beach Boys and John Legend. The center also hosts free community entertainment and events weekly on the Argyros Plaza like the Summer Jazz Series.
The more intimate South Coast Repertory is a Tony Award winning theater that presents new works by acclaimed playwrights and reinventions of classic works.
July through August, Pacific Amphitheatre hosts its annual Toyota Summer Concert Series, including diverse performances by the likes of Brandi Carlile, Rick Springfield, Rebelution, Ziggy Marley, Kool & The Gang, Dwight Yoakam and Jackson Browne, to name a few. Tickets include admission to the OC Fair, so it’s easy to make a day of it.
Dig Into Farm Life
If you’re traveling with kids, stop in at Centennial Farm at the OC Fair & Event Center. The 1.6-acre working farm has been offering free tours and agricultural education since 1988 and serves as a perfect spot for a few hours of quality time before or the day after the big event. Kids can meet livestock like cows, goats, chickens, pigs and oxen and get a taste for what the area was like in decades gone by.
Pick the Perfect Souvenir
Costa Mesa is a shopper’s paradise with everything from small, local boutiques to the largest shopping center on the West Coast, South Coast Plaza. At The LAB, The CAMP and SOCO and The OC Mix, find a mix of local retailers and artisans selling everything from unique housewares to handmade jewelry. South Coast Plaza houses one of the highest concentrations of designer brands in the country.
Explore Greater Orange County
Make it a magical weekend with a stop at the Disneyland Resort with the help of convenient shuttles from several of Costa Mesa’s hotels. Just $5.50 per adult and $2 per child can get you round trip travel straight to and from the parks’ gates each day. And if you plan to visit the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land, make sure to make your reservation ahead!
Staying in Costa Mesa also means you’re in great proximity to Orange County’s stunning beaches! Just a short drive toward the coast and you’ll find Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, or you can head further south to experience Laguna Beach.
